Musicians' Holiday

f_musiciansholiday
Originally uploaded by ricksoloway

Thanks, ricksoloway (flickr)

Cigar Box Nation

Cigar Box Guitar by Mark Frauenfelder

See more photos of this guitar and many more here:

CIGAR BOX NATION

Fun!

More drawings, more cartoons, more fun!

Heidi MacDonald of "The Beat" sent boingboing a great link to one of their blog posts called "The Happiest Cartoonists of All Time" . It's about a Life magazine photo shoot in 1950 with a bunch of bathing beauties being tortured by the pens of happy cartoonists. Here's Alfred Andriola doing his thing on one of the young models. Follow link for more photos from this session. Crazy man!

Goya's Sketches

Here are some drawings from Goya's sketchbooks. The top one shows a guy trying to roller skate in 1824. I did not know they even had roller skates back then. Oh, but of course! I love Goya's line work almost better than his paintings. He shows a lot of emotion using simple gestures and classic design. Brushed-in ink washes add volume and light to the drawings. These are from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston where you will find more.

"Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish painter and printmaker regarded both as the last of the Old Masters and as the first of the moderns."
What's really great is this website with links to all kinds of sketchbooks (that is where I found the Goya link):

Artists' Sketchbooks Online

Enjoy!
The Art of Amy Crehore

The Blab! Show Revisited

Roaming Tomcat Rag by Amy Crehore, Blab Show 2006
Black Snake Wiggle Blues by Amy Crehore, Blab Show 2006 The Strummer by Amy Crehore, Blab Show 2006

Little Tickle by Amy Crehore, Blab Show 2006

Mini-monkey #4 by Amy Crehore, Blab Show 2006

Mini-monkey #3 by Amy Crehore, Blab Show 2006

Mini-monkey #2 by Amy Crehore, Blab Show 2006

Mini-monkey #1 by Amy Crehore, Blab Show 2006

The Tickler by Amy Crehore, Blab Show 2005

The Charmer by Amy Crehore, Blab Show 2005

The Banana Eater by Amy Crehore, Blab Show 2005

CLICK TO ENLARGE

In case you didn't know, I was in the very first Blab! art show at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, CA. In 2005, I had 3 paintings in the 1st Blab! show (that was the beginning of my "Monkey Love Series"-bottom 3 images). And in 2006, I had 8 paintings in the 2nd Blab! show (top images). "The Banana Eater" painting later became a framed, canvas print by Pressure Printing

as well as a spread in "Blab! 17", the magazine.

(All of these paintings are sold. More original paintings, prints and drawings on my website.)

The Art of Amy Crehore

THE BIG FUNNY Newspaper and Art Show!

Big Funny Web site, 16″ x 23″, 48 pages, only $5 US plus shipping

I recently got a copy of THE BIG FUNNY in the mail to read and review. It's HUGE! The largest newspaper I ever saw -16" x 23" ! Or, is it because my local paper has now shrunk down to nothing that it seems so big? Anyhow, it's ALL comics. Can you beat that? 48 pages of color comics. Looks like it has about 45 or so contributors, all of whom love to draw comics and want to preserve the history of comics. The best I can do right now, because I still haven't even finished reading it, is to list their names and creations and to clue you in about the BIG FUNNY art show which opens this friday at Altered Esthetics Art Gallery in Minneapolis (7-10pm).

“Hey Kids, Comics!” by Terry Beatty
“Little Emo in Slumbaland” by Jesse Gillespie
“Little Miss Mechanical’s Bedtime Amusement” by Diana Nock
“There is a Heppy Plonet” by Mike Sgier
“Captain Kleinbottle” by Jason Sandberg
“Hey Rube!” by Daniel J. Olson
“Army Men” by Kevin Cannon
“Classics Majors…in Love!” by Ursula Murray Husted
“Tommy Chicago and Jimmy” by Brian Bastian and Danno Klonowski
“Oil Painting” by Bjorn Rolvaag
“Banana Republic” by Kirk Anderson
“Citizen Participation in Hell” by Ken Avidor
“The Teenage Ghost Hunting Society” by B. Sabo
“Vis,Croatia: The Ride” by Jenny Schmid
“Residue Comics: Krack-Up” by Roger Lootine
“Middle Management” by Andy Singer
“Mark Droppings” by BIll Prendergast
“Dewey Dawner” by Madeline Queripel
“Post Modern” by David Sandberg
“Flying Boy!” by Lewis Tuck
“Authoritative Expert J. Wiggins” by Bud Burgy
“Squirrels and Pigeons” by Caanan Grall
“Eye of the Beholder” by Adam Wirtzfeld
“Uncle $achs” by Donn Ha
“The Madcap Shenanigans of Randolph & Sir Chirptrude, Esq.” by Lonny Unitus
“Gee, Whizzard!” by Kevin McCarthy
“Nate the Nonconformist” by Stephanie Mannheim
“Rampage!” by Erik Nelson
“Inkwellspring” by Henry Chamberlain
“Laffit Forward!” by Blake Himsl Hunter
“The Further Adventures of Vegan Ninja Cats (Who Ride Bikes)” by Mike Toft
“Living in Filth” by Hawk Krall
“Rocket Steven” by Earl Luckes
“Talewinds: Little Jimmy” by Steve Mason
“L’il Buddha and the Hungry Ghost Realm” by Ryan Dow
“Dear Friends” by Britt Hammerberg
“A Breast Abreast” by Lupi
“Uptown Girl” by Bob Lipski
“Underground Funnies” by D.C. McNamara
“Adventure!” by David Steinlicht
“Bongo the Monkey” by Steven Stwalley
“Pumpkinship” by Maxeem
“Look” by David Paleo
“Pickle-Head” by Paul Fricke
“Ticket to Crickety Creek” by William Ede

Please buy a copy of the Big Funny (it's a steal at $5., plus shipping) and go to the show if you live nearby.

Produced by: The International Cartoonist Conspiracy , Big Time Attic , and Altered Esthetics
Thanks, Steven Stwalley.

Buy a copy here: BIG FUNNY WEBSITE

Gallery Closings...

Here is an interesting little film by James Kalm called In Memoriam: Gallery Closings in NYC

James Kalm was the guy who happened to film my own gallery opening last summer in Brooklyn, NY.

Josephine Baker 1927

Wearing my T-shirt

Well, wadda ya know? Here's a sweet photo of a guy wearing my ukulele t-shirt on the boat to Stromboli, Italy. He looks so happy with his uke. That guy happens to be Steve McNie who is one of the founders of the Corktown Ukulele Jam and website: Toronto Ukes . These folks have so much fun! Have a look at the "Streetcar Night" slideshow. Thanks, Steve!

P.S. If anyone else wants to send me a photo of themselves with my ukulele shirt on (in various parts of the world), I would be more than honored to post it on my blog.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Photo of the Day

Follow the Fiddler's Lead (Steve Chasmar's flickr)

Here is the most dreamy, vintage, musical scene - complete with clown outfits.

click to enlarge

Thanks, Steve!

Limited Edition, Artist Signed Prints by Amy Crehore (and a T-shirt)

Amy Crehore Artist T-shirt

The Charmer Print (one of 6 different Monkey Love Prints)

Roaming Tomcat Rag Print (small quantity available)

The Banana Eater Framed Canvas Print by Pressure Printing (small quantity available)

Banjo Gal Print (one of five different "Little Pierrot" prints)

Deja Vu Waltz Print

Weed Smoker's Dream Print

Song of the Sea Print

Monkey Love Song Print (small quantity available)

CLICK ON LINKS UNDER IMAGES TO GO TO WEBSITE PAGES
I have a variety of prints available on my website for very reasonable prices right now. Each edition is limited, signed and numbered (archivally produced by Sterling Editions or Pressure Printing). I sometimes include small pencil drawings in orders (chosen at random). I always include postcards, a certificate of authenticity and archival sleeves. This is an excellent way to see my art up close and live with it, if you can't get to a gallery to view the real thing. I also have an artist t-shirt still available in 5 sizes. My artwork features ukuleles, guitars, banjos, girls, monkeys, a lion, a tortoise, cats, a "little pierrot" and other characters.

This week, I am taking part in a San Diego Comic-con art show. If you can't make it to comic-con, or to the wonderbreadhaus where the events will take place, have a look at Mark Murphy's Blog to see a preview of the art. He is actually staging two exhibits back-to-back on July 23rd and 24th. The first is Scribble 08, featuring these artists and a documentary film:

Jesse M Balmer + Glenn Barr + Tim Biskup + Cathie Bleck + Matthew Bone + Marc Burckhardt + Colin Christian + Sas Christian + Kevin Christy + Christian and Rob Clayton + Robert Connett + Tony Fitzpatrick + AJ Fosik + Femke Hiemstra + Hiro Kurata + James Jean + Chris Mars + Jeff Soto + Gary Taxali + Thesis + Mark Todd + Damon Soule + Esther Pearl Watson + Kent Williams + Martin Wittfooth

The second exhibit is the Planetillogica Exhibit on July 24th, which I will have two paintings in:
David Van Alphen : Jonathan Bergeron : Chris Buzelli : Bob Dob : Molly Crabapple : Amy Crehore : Steven Daily : Brendan Danielsson : Leslie Ditto : Travis Lampe : Jason Limon : Travis Louie : Lola : Tim Mantoani : Dan May : Mike Maxwell : Brandi Milne : Joel Nakamura : Kathie Olivas : Nathan Ota : Brandt Peters : Luke Ramsey : Chris Ryniak : Erik Sandberg : Raudiel Sanudo : Mijn Schatje : Nathan Spoor : Matt Stallings : David Russell Talbott : Jon Todd : Joe Vaux : Marco Wagner : Jeni Yang
Follow this link to view the art in these shows:
http://murphydesign1.blogspot.com/
Contact for purchases/price list of the art in these two shows: Mark Murphy murphy@murphydesign.com
LINK: My two paintings for this show


The Art of Amy Crehore
(Other original oil paintings, drawings and ukuleles contact: amy@amycrehore.com)

Dreams Designed by Dali for Hitchcock 1945

Frank McCourt is Gone

Frank McCourt, the brilliant author of "Angela's Ashes", has died. This book was his memoir of a dismal, poverty-stricken, Irish Catholic childhood. It was published when McCourt was 66 year old - after decades of teaching English in NYC schools. It's an unforgettable true story written with amazing grace and humor. What a journey this man's life was.

A Couple of New Crehore Paintings

Close up detail of painting by Amy Crehore, "Conversation with Willy Wiggly"
Close up detail of painting by Amy Crehore, "Cloudy Day Blues"

"Cloudy Day Blues" 12"x12", oil on board by Amy Crehore 2009

"Conversation with Willy Wiggly" 12"x12", oil on board by Amy Crehore 2009
PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
Here are my newest paintings for a special event to be held during San Diego comic-con (one features a banjo uke or maybe it's a tenor banjo uke since it has a longer neck):
Planet Illogica Extravaganza and Super Hero Art Exhibition
Friday : JULY 24, 6:30PM – 12:30 AM
A major art happening that delivers fine art, live music featuring Taylor Bates composer of “300,” “Watchmen,” cash bar, food and great friends : minutes away from the San Diego Comic-Con convention hall : Planet Illogica Extravaganza featuring art, music, fashion and great friends. Live painting on nude model by Ron English.
Location : Wonderhaus : 1441 L Street : San Diego : CA : 92101 :
www.wonderbreadhaus.com
+++Featured Artists+++David Van Alphen : Jonathan Bergeron : Chris Buzelli : Bob Dob : Molly Crabapple : Amy Crehore : Steven Daily : Brendan Danielsson : Leslie Ditto : Travis Lampe : Jason Limon : Travis Louie : Lola : Tim Mantoani : Dan May : Mike Maxwell : Brandi Milne : Joel Nakamura : Kathie Olivas : Nathan Ota : Brandt Peters : Luke Ramsey : Chris Ryniak : Erik Sandberg : Raudiel Sanudo : Mijn Schatje : Nathan Spoor : Matt Stallings : David Russell Talbott : Jon Todd : Joe Vaux : Marco Wagner : Jeni Yang
+++Sponsors+++http://beta.planetillogica.com/ : create : participate : contribute
Ninthlink : Hash House A Go Go : Sushi On A Roll : Just Taste It Catering

If you want to view the exhibit online, please go here (art is being added daily):
ARTWORK

Contact for purchases: Mark Murphy murphy@murphydesign.com
Mark Murphy is also putting together a documentary film and another art exhibit the night before at the exact same location. It's called "Scribble.08". Read about it and see more art on his blog! I started to blog all the names of artists, but the blog post was getting way too long. You'll just have to check it out for yourself. Major names, major art. What a happenin'!
The Art of Amy Crehore

Details of My New Paintings

A detail of painting by Amy Crehore, oil on board, "Conversation with Willy Wiggly"

(original is 12"x12")

A detail of painting by Amy Crehore, oil on board, "Cloudy Day Blues"

(original is 12"x12")

Here I am showing you partial views of two new paintings. These will be offered for sale at a comic-con event/art show July 24, 2009. I will tell you more about it in my next post.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

The Art of Amy Crehore

Buster Keaton plays for Bust

This is the most beautiful picture of Buster Keaton ever...with his uke. Look at his feet. Just perfect. (Thanks to artist, Nate Ronniger, for finding it here )

I know I have been a lazy blogger lately, but it's because I have been so busy painting. I do apologize. I will show you a couple of new ones very soon! I finished them today. They took me forever to paint because I switched from linen to fiberboard- which is smoother, but much less absorbant.

Anyhow, enjoy one more tribute to Buster on my blog and I will be back soon.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Buster Keaton Busts Up Uke...

From the Columbia short "Pest from the West", 1939.

Thanks reichmarshall

Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries' Dynamic Poetry

Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries just did something cool to

LACMA's website. Here's an explanation of what they do from an interview: "We combine text with jazz to create Flash pieces".

You will just have to check it out for yourself!

Here is their website:

http://www.yhchang.com/

Cloudy Collection Letterpress Prints- New Release June 30

Detail from Bwana Spoons print

Remember the cool letterpress prints I did with David Huyck a couple months ago? Well, he's producing a second set in pink and brown with more artists. The “Hovels & Hideaways” edition of the Cloudy Collection includes art by Chris “Elio” Eliopoulos, Scott Campbell, S.Britt, Vera Brosgol, Bwana Spoons, Vincent “King Mini” Stall, and David Huyck. Buy this set of limited edition letterpress prints for only $35 Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 9 am pacific time!

CLOUDY COLLECTION

The Art of Amy Crehore

Winner of My Limerick Contest

Detail of painting by Amy Crehore 2009

It was really hard to choose a winner from so many good limericks!
That is why it has taken me so long to decide. Anne Marie won the big prize with a couple of great poems. But, Digital Misfit, Treplovski and David G are runners up and they will each get a little something in the mail from me. Please drop me a note with your address, if your poem is posted below.

amycrehore@hotmail.com

Anne Marie wrote:

There once was a lion named Fred
who was used by his girl as a bed.
He believed she was true,
or at least, wanted to,
though when sleeping, the bee'd give her head.

A girl and her pal, Mr. Bee,
Were at rest on a giant kitty.
Though unsafe in the nude,
the girl kept him subdued
by playing her banjolele.

Digital Misfit wrote-

There was once a young lady named Leigh
Who slept naked with a beast and a bee
When asked 'Aren't you scared'
Replied 'No, I'm prepared
To strike with my ukulele'

Treplovski wrote-

A banjo she'd found in the attic
Had rendered the lion ecstatic.
As they dozed on the lawns
A large bee claimed her mons.
Ah yes, this could be problematic.

David G wrote-

A lovely musician named Joan

Would greet passing boys with a groan

So she brought out her pet

As a live basinette

And now passersby leave her alone!

Thanks to all for participating! There are some really creative people out there. It was a lot of fun reading them all!

The Art of Amy Crehore

What am I working on?

Amy Crehore 2009 preliminary sketch

Amy Crehore 2009 preliminary sketch

I'm working on oil-primed fiberboard right now. I usually paint on linen, so this is a little bit different for me. I'm doing a couple of 12"x12" paintings in preparation for a show at comic-con in San Diego which I will tell you more about soon. I have posted some partial images (above) as a teaser. My process goes like this: first, I sketch the image in with raw umber (after transferring a pencil drawing to the board) and then, I rub raw sienna over the entire surface (or vice versa), so that I won't be painting on a stark white board. I plan to fill in some of the color today and "lose myself" in painting. Stay tuned....

Oh yeah, feel free to add a limerick to the post below if you'd like a chance to win an art t-shirt and a limited edition print. Use Edward Lear for inspiration!

The Art of Amy Crehore

Write a Limerick to Win a Free Print and Uke T-shirt

(Artist T-shirt by Amy Crehore)

(Amy Crehore 2009, limited edition, signed print)

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
I have some new signed, limited edition prints of my recent paintings available on my website. LINK How would you like to win the print shown here, plus a Tickler Ukulele t-shirt (top image)? All you have to do is write a clever limerick about this painting and leave it in the comments section of my blog. Here is an example of a limerick . Remember, it has to be funny. You might want to give a silly name to a character and take it from there....for example: "There once was a lion (or girl) named__________".
On Sunday, at 6pm PST, a winner will be chosen.
Posts using foul language will be deleted!
Double entendres are encouraged, however. Be clever and funny, people!
The Art of Amy Crehore

"Alice" Never Dies

Alice Liddel, photo by Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) 1860

I was just looking at a book of photos by Lewis Carroll, "Dreaming in Pictures" (put together by SFMOMA and Yale University Press). The pictures are mostly of children and they are exquisite, representing the early days of fine art photography. He didn't just photograph Alice Liddell, as shown above, but many children in groups and costumes. Getting them to sit still was a feat and he managed to do it by having them relax into sleepy-type poses which made his photos quite dreamy and artistic.

Today, Tim Burton's upcoming film is in the news. In less than a year, a new movie called "Alice in Wonderland" will be in theaters. Here's a first look at the beautiful sets for that film. It sounds like it will be a sequel to the story, with a more grown-up Alice re-visiting Wonderland. Lewis Carroll and his Alice will never cease to inspire others. LINK:

USA Today

The Art of Amy Crehore

More Drawings...

"Banjo Gal" drawing by Amy Crehore
"Lolita Part Two" drawing by Amy Crehore

Detail of larger drawing "The Banana Eater" by Amy Crehore

People have shown interest in my drawings lately, so I added more of them to my website. I bring my ideas into focus by drawing. My drawings usually evolve by erasing a lot and/or tracing rough sketches. Often, I have no idea what I am drawing and it's all about the "process" and the design. The more I erase and re-draw, the better. By using my intuition, I refine my compositions. These are the preliminary sketches for my oil paintings.

The Art of Amy Crehore- Drawings

NEW Crehore Dreamgirl Prints: A Lion and a Tortoise

"Song of the Sea" by Amy Crehore 2009

"Weed Smoker's Dream" by Amy Crehore 2009

I am releasing two new, artist-signed limited edition giclee prints of paintings from my "Dreamgirls and Ukes" L.A. solo show. One is called "Song of the Sea" and the other is "Weed Smoker's Dream" (which also happens to be the title of a song by the Harlem Hamfats, 1936).

These paintings feature a tortoise and a lion. One has a banjo-ukulele in it.

Printed on Hahnemuhle acid-free photorag 308 gsm paper with the finest quality printer using superior ultrachrome inks (by Sterling Editions). Comes in archival sleeve with free postcards and a certificate of authenticity. Each print is signed and numbered by me. Only 60 prints in each edition. Some orders will have small, signed, pencil drawings tucked in them (numbers selected at random).

They are $50. and $55, plus shipping and handling. Here is the link to buy:
NEW DREAMGIRL PRINTS by Amy Crehore

P.S. I added some more drawings to my website drawing section.